When you think of a New Zealand holiday as a ‘once in a lifetime experience’ or a ‘dream holiday’, it’s tempting to aim to do everything you can on your trip. To go across the entire North Island, down across the entire South Island, rushing between every ‘must-see sight’ on every long list of ‘must-see sights’.
After all, there is so much to see. Of course you want to see it all.
Except to rush around New Zealand is to miss the country’s true beauty. Every single sight on those must-see lists deserves your full attention and appreciation. Whether that’s an awe-inspiring trek across Fiordland, a sparkling descent into the glowworm caves at Waitomo or a gentle cruise across Cathedral Cove, every place you visit, every sight you see, needs time to enjoy fully.
This makes New Zealand the perfect place for slow travel. For a trip in which every aspect is savoured and enjoyed to its fullest without skipping anything. In this post, we’ll introduce you to the concept of slow travel and explain why it is probably the best way to see New Zealand in 2027 and 2028.
The history of slow travel
The‘slow’ movement may feel like a new concept, but it’s been around since 1986. It started as a reaction to fast food, when people shifted focus to food that was locally sourced, carefully prepared instead and started what became known as the slow food movement.
Over the years, the idea of ‘slow’ culture has spread to most areas of life, from slow art, to slow fashion and even slow marketing. But slow travel is maybe the area where it makes the most sense.
So what is slow travel?
Slow travel is about immersing yourself in your destination. Staying somewhere long enough to truly soak it in and get a feel for the history, the inhabitants, the culture, the wildlife, the food, just everything there is to feel and see about a place.
How you choose to embody slow travel can be personal, but it really is about taking your time. Seeing the less popular – but usually no less impressive – sights or attractions. Spending longer in each place, or even visiting only one, so you can experience every aspect of it and absorb it all.
And this is why it’s perfect for New Zealand. Because even the smallest town has so much to offer, every area in the country has its own beauty, and you would struggle to run out of things to appreciate.
Three Ways to Slow Down in New Zealand
Stay longer in each place
Okay, so this one might seem obvious, but we’ve been helping people plan their perfect New Zealand holidays for over 25 years, and we can promise you one of the biggest issues that people face is trying to move between too many places, too quickly.
Even smaller towns or villages offer enough options to fill three or more days. A minimum of one day each to explore the whole area, one day to deep dive on a particular attraction and one to go further afield is rarely enough.
Taking a ‘slow’ approach gives you more time to explore thoroughly and even start to feel more at home. It will give you a clearer idea of how life in the area really feels.
Include ‘buffer days’ in your plans
If you can’t afford to spread your time too thin, a compromise is to leave a ‘buffer’ day between the places you visit. A flexible day where you have no specific plans, so you can revisit somewhere that caught your interest or move on to somewhere new if you prefer.
Even the ‘somewhere you revisit’ can be small or flexible. It could be an attraction, it could be a hike or a beach, but it could even be a restaurant or park, somewhere to while away an afternoon and enjoy the luxury of being in a new country. The luxury of relaxing.
Without the pressure to rush off to the next place, you’ll find a whole new mindset and new way of experiencing New Zealand.
Explore Smaller Towns
Rather than just hitting the New Zealand ‘Greatest Hits’ cities like Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown, take the time to visit smaller, less popular places. There are very few places in New Zealand that won’t deliver a wonderful experience, but if you’re unsure whether a particular town or area has enough interest, we can help.
By staying away from the big, busy tourist spots, you’ll enjoy a more peaceful holiday that gives you a better grasp of what life in New Zealand is really like. Instead of being rushed along at the pace of the crowd, you can take your time, really get to see the areas you visit and don’t have to worry about being overwhelmed.
If you’re looking to build a tailor-made holiday itinerary that focuses on quieter, less visible places that still take your breath away, talk to our team. We can help you build a trip that meets your specific needs.
The Best Regions for Slow Travel in New Zealand
Northland: A Different Rhythm of Life
While many people rush up to the northernmost point of New Zealand, most will just see Cape Reinga and its famous lighthouse before heading back to the south. Those people are missing out.
The quiet peace of Northland makes it the perfect place to rest for a few days, milling around the region with no fixed agenda. Take your time to explore the local markets, harbours and walk the coastal paths to fill your time with plenty of inspiring sights without ever feeling rushed.
Hawke’s Bay: an underappreciated wine haven
When most people think of wine regions in New Zealand, Marlborough is the spot that first comes to mind. But if you’re looking for a slower travel experience that you can savour. Hawke’s Bay is an excellent alternative.
This stunning coastal region is studded with vineyards and threaded with cycle trails, so the best way to see it is a bicycle-based winery tour. This gives you the chance to explore the many vineyards and taste the local produce at your own pace, while the mainly flat landscape means you can stay slow, steady and low effort as you do.
The Catlins:
If you wish to truly escape the tourist traps of New Zealand for a few days, then the Catlins gives you the space to enjoy solitude and fully submerge in your surroundings.
A remote, rugged region on the south coast of the South Island, there are plenty of breathtaking sights scattered across the region. From epic waterfalls to beautiful beaches, you’ll be constantly stopping to admire something new. It’s also home to sea lions and some of New Zealand’s most unusual birds, if you’re looking to add more wildlife to your trip.
The Catlins isn’t home to any ‘must-see, bucket list attractions’, but this doesn’t make it a less desirable destination. If you’re looking for a peaceful exploration of New Zealand, where you can focus on yourself and your experiences without intrusion, The Catlins is the place to find it.
Stewart Island: New Zealand’s Ultimate Slow Travel Destination
If you’d like to stray even further south, Stewart Island is the only point left. An island off the south coast, only 400 people live there year-round, which gives it a toned-down way of life that matches a slow travel vibe completely.
With few roads, limited mobile reception in some areas and this scant population, there’s little pressure to suffer on this island. From others or yourself.
This doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do of course. Plenty of hikes, panoramic views, and rare wildlife – including native kiwi birds – give plenty to see, and if you arrive at the right time of year you can even see the ‘Aurora Australis’, the southern counterpart to the Northern Lights.
Stay a while for a slow travel experience
If you’re interested in slow travel, our ‘Stay A While’ packages are designed to give you more time in each place you visit. Offered initially with 3 or 5 nights per location (with the freedom to add more) they give you time to relax between locations, with less time spent travelling and more time spent enjoying.
Slow travel might not have been started with New Zealand in mind, but it might as well have been. It is the most suitable way to see a country with breathtaking scenery around every corner, fascinating culture in every town and city.
If you’d like a ‘slow’ New Zealand holiday that is tailored to your personal interests, then our expert team can help you build one. Talk to us today to find out more.
